How to change MX record for spam filtering

The MX record (mail exchanger record) is a special type of resource record in the Domain Name System that specifies a mail server responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a recipient's domain and a preference value used to prioritize mail delivery if multiple mail servers are available. When your domain is registered, it's assigned several DNS records, which enable it to be located on the Internet. These include MX records, which direct the domain's mail flow. For users to send and receive email, their domain's MX records must point to a server that can process their mail. In order to have SPAMfighter filtering your mail you will need the change the MX record settings. This is a normal process for all hosted spam filters.

To change your MX record you just need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the company which hosts your DNS domain name. You will be asked for your Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) and a new IP address of your mail server. When you sign up for SPAMfighter Hosted Mail Gateway you will receive en e-mail with the new IP address.

Take a look at our graphics below of how mail procesing and spam filtering is really happening.

This is the generel perception of how mail is being handled for the non-expert

You (A) send an e-mail to a remote recipient (B) and it is delivered immediately.

This is what actually happens

You (A) want to send an e-mail to a remote recipient (D)

What actually happens is that your e-mail program sends the e-mail to a mail server (B)

The mail server (B) asks a DNS server where in the world the recipient (D) has his e-mails stored

The DNS server responds back to the mail server (B) with a so-called MX-record which has the address of the mail server (C) of recipient (D)

The mail server (B) sends the e-mail to the recipient's mail server (C)

The recipient (D) retrieves the e-mail from his/her mail server (C)

This is how we handle spam when SPAMfighter is enabled and the MX record has been changed

You (A) want to send an e-mail to a remote recipient (E)

What actually happens is that your e-mail program sends the e-mail to a mail server (B)

The mail server (B) asks a DNS server where in the world the recipient (E) has his e-mails stored

The DNS server responds back to the mail server (B) with a MX-record which points to SPAMfighter's hosted anti-spam filter server